Draft-rigging.



No. 723,169.' PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.'

A; LIPSGHUTZ.

i' UNITED l STATEsl ARTHUR LlPsCHUTZ, OF ST. LOUIS,

DRAFT-'moe i No.1!"

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters PATENT EEIOE.'

ONE-HALF TO atent N0. 723,169, dated March 17, 1903.

Appnctmn ined october-1e, 1902, sesamo. 127,572. ci@ man.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ARTHUR LIPscI-IUTZ, a

citizen of the United States, residing ,in the tion.

zo fcentral stem extending between theforward the rivet 6 and iscity of St. Louis, Missouri,have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft- Rigg'ings, of which the following is a specifica- `This invention relates to draft-rigging for railroad-cars, and has to do with the construc-v tion and arrangement of car-couplers and the springs therefor.`

The object of the invention is `to improve the constructionandarrangement of the t-ailstrap andthe spring-followers for car-couplers; and with this endlin view my invention consists generally in thecombination of the car-coupler with the ailrstrap therefor provided with a division-plate, the cushionsprings, the fore and aft followers for each, the stationary stopsffor said followers, and a followers lof the two spring-cushions.

My invention further consists in particular i constructions and in combination of parts, all

as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out inthe claims..

The invention will be morereadily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a draftrigging embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof on the lines of Fig. 1, the upper part of the strap being out away.

As shown in the drawings, 2 represents the large end on the shank of the coupler.

2 is the tail-strap, which is secured to the shank. This strap embraces both cushionsprings 3 and 4. In this connection it may be stated 'that single springs are shown in the drawings for the sake of clearness, while in practice the springs are nested in each space or compartment within the strap. The strap is provided with the partition-plate 5, corresponding to the lugs commonly employed, but here taking the form of an actual bridgeplate between the top and bottomof the strap. This plate is -irmly secured to the strap by provided with a central hole 7.' Y

` S 9 are the fore and aft follower-plates of the forward.. spring,` and 10 andA 1l are the y fore and aft follower-plates of the rear or in nerl spring. These plates, as shown in the plant view,. Fig. 2, are wider than the strap and extend out into the stop-channels 12, which are secured upon the inner sides of. the draftsills 22 of the car. The channels 12 are-each provided with three stops 13, 14, and 15 for the followers 8, 9, 10,and 1l. The followf ers S and 9 are arranged between the stops 13 ,and-14., while the followers 10 and llare arranged between the stops 14 and 15. rear follower is provided with the usual center stud 16 to hold the springor springs in The place. As usual, Vthis studis in the form of a hollow rivet, that. is secured in the central openingof th'e follower-plate 11. A similar central stud 17 `is provided in the forward plate 8, while the follower-plate 9 is provided with a largehole 18. The follower-plate 10, Iwhich is forward of the rear spring, is provided with a rod, shaft, or stem 19, which is preferably Vintegral therewith and extends forward through the hole 7'` in thepartitionplate 5 and` through the hole 1S `in the follower 9. The forward end of the stem 19 is reduced in size and is seated in the step 20, provided therefor `in the end of the stud 17. In the forward compartment ofthe strap this stem serves to hold the spring or springs centrally in place, and the rear side of the follower 10 is provided with a recess 21 to hold the spring, in this respect corresponding to the stud 16. As shown, the follower 9 normally rests against the partition plate or lug 5, and the follower 10 rests lightlyagainst the opposite side thereof, the force of the springs tending to hold the spring-strap with the plate 5 exactly opposite the stop-lugs 14.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The parts being in position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and a pull being exerted upon the coupler to draw the strap forward, it is evident that the follower 11 will be drawn forward by the rear end of the strap, while the follower 9 will be forced forward against its spring by the lug or plate 5 on the strap. In the meantime the followers 8 and 10 will rest against the stops 13 and 14, so that the strength of both springs is exerted against the pull of the coupler. A pulling strain on the coup- IOO ler does not particularly tend to distort the strap; but when the stress is reversed, as when the coupler is subjected to a buffing shock, the whole tendency is to spread the strap open at the middle, and this is particularly the case in those draft-riggings where the partition-lug is depended upon to communicate the shock to the rear spring. The particular object of thisinvention is to over come the dicnlty, and it will be evident that this object is attainedvupon' consideration of the eect of a shock uponlmy coupler. When a pushing force is exerted upon the coupler, the rst effectk is upon the follower 8, with which the shank of the coupler immediately engages. This places the spring 3 under compression, with the follower 9 held against the stops 14. At the same time the shock upon the'follower 8 is communicated directly to the follower lO through the strong central stem or shaft 19, operating through the hole in the follower 9 and bridge or partition plate 5. In this way the rearspring is placed under compression without in any way tending to spread the strap apart at the middle. There is, in fact, practically no engagement between the part 5 and the follower 10 at such times. y

My draft-rigging, in addition to its advantages of simplicity, cheapness, and openness of construction, is very easy to repair in case of accident. Furthermore, my invention is readily applicable to the various draft-riggings now in use. To do so, it is only necessary to replace the present form of partition plate` or lug 5 and the innerfollowers by the lug and followers herein shown in order to reconstruct most of the present devices to embody my.nove1 features.

It is evident that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and I therefore do not confine my invention to the specific construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent#- 1. The draft-rigging comprising, in combination, the car-coupler, the tail-strap therefor provided with a division-plate, the cushion-springs, the fore and aft followers for each, the stationary stop for said followers and a central stem extending between the forward followers of the two spring-cushions, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the tail-strap attached. to the coupler-shank and provided with the division-plate, with the forward and rear cushion 1 springs, the fore and aft follower-plates therefor, the stationary stops for said plates, a stem extending forward from the forward follower of the rear cushion andattached to the forward follower of the front cushion, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the strap 3 of the plate 5 secured therein and provided with a central opening, the cushion-springs, the followers 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the stem 19 on said follower 10 extending through the opening in said plate and connected with the follower 8, substantially as described.

4. ln a draft-rigging, the combination of the strap, of the plate 5, the rivets 6, 6 securing the same to said strap, the followerplates 8, 9; 10 and 11, the cushions between the followers 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the stem 19 rigidly joining the followers 8, 9 and 10 and extending through said plate 5, and the fol lower 9, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at the city of St. Louis, this 11th day of September, 1902, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

" ARTHUR LIPSCHUTZ.

Witnesses CHAS. WHIDDLE, WM. STEVENSON. 

